GamesIndustry.biz attended the eighth edition of Gamescom’s Opening Night Live on Tuesday evening, a fully digital showcase that filled the venue to capacity. Every seat was taken and a host of gaming personalities were on hand, including Xbox’s senior leader Asha Sharma, who was spotted near the front of the room striking an exaggerated “X” with her arms as the cameras swept across the crowd.
The event began with Geoff Keighley delivering a surprisingly personal opening address. He recounted how, after last year’s ceremony, he returned home to be with his father during his final illness, a period that ended with his father’s passing. Keighley then turned to the broader state of the industry, acknowledging that video games are undergoing a period of rapid change.
He cited the wave of layoffs and the rising cost of hardware caused by a shortage of AI‑related components, yet he stressed that developers worldwide continue to press on, forging new experiences despite the headwinds. The first trailer that rolled on the screen displayed the word “Hoyoverse,” prompting audible gasps from the audience.
The reaction underscored the global reach of Hoyoverse’s flagship titles such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The featured game, Nodusfall, was a sleek cooperative action title that bears a strong resemblance to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, with teams of players hunting down massive, dragon‑like beasts in a richly detailed world. The rest of the showcase confirmed that Asian studios, particularly from China and South Korea, are becoming an increasingly dominant force at Gamescom. Highlights included Cinder City and Like or Die from NCSoft, PUBG: Ded.Net from Krafton, Ananta and Sea of Remnants from NetEase, Zoopunk from Ti Games, and Tides of Annihilation from Chengdu‑based Eclipse Glow Games.
Hoyoverse also presented a new life‑simulation experience called Petit Planet, expanding its portfolio beyond the action‑RPG formula. Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the upcoming Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, took the stage to announce that the title will launch in spring 2027 on every major platform simultaneously—a departure from the previous two installments, which were timed PlayStation exclusives.
The announcement was met with enthusiastic applause, signalling strong demand for a cross‑platform release of the beloved franchise. Representatives from 4A Games, Jon Bloch and Pavel Ulmer, then introduced the trailer for Metro 2039, slated for a February 2027 release. Bloch described the project as a “dark, demanding experience that requires passion, discipline, and a team used to working under chaotic conditions,” while Ulmer added that development had been “pretty rough, trust me.” The trailer opened with a bold caption reading “Proudly made in Ukraine,” emphasizing the studio’s resilience amid ongoing challenges. The night’s biggest surprise, however, was the announcement concerning The Witcher 3.
CD Projekt Red revealed that the iconic open‑world RPG will receive a comprehensive remaster that upgrades combat, introduces full‑ray‑tracing support, and adds a host of quality‑of‑life improvements. Most notably, the remaster will be offered as a free upgrade to anyone who owns the original game on September 29. In addition, the two original expansions will be handed out at no cost to base‑game owners, and a brand‑new third expansion, Songs of the Past, is scheduled for 2027. Level‑design lead Miles Tost explained that the studio has long wanted “one more story” for Geralt, and a quick look at the upcoming expansion showed the hero wielding a fresh chain‑weapon mechanic.
Wizards of the Coast also used the stage to preview its upcoming space‑adventure title Exodus, due April 7 2027, and presented an extended gameplay trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons game Warlock, slated for release sometime next year. Other notable reveals included Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts (co‑produced with Level Infinite), a lighter‑hearted take on the Helldivers formula; Lego Skylines, a city‑building simulation published by Paradox Interactive; and Ontos from Frictional Games and Kepler, billed as a spiritual successor to Soma.
MBC Game Studio debuted its first project, 1001 Threads of Mizan, financed by the Saudi Arabian broadcaster MBC. A tongue‑in‑cheek trailer for Showa American Story—featuring a protagonist who attacks enemies with an American flag and an arm‑mounted drill—earned a modest round of applause, suggesting that 4Divinity’s strategy of embracing eccentric, over‑the‑top AA titles may be resonating with the crowd. Meanwhile, RedOctane’s Stage Tour sparked genuine cheers, indicating that the revival of rhythm‑action guitar games is a long‑overdue comeback.
Nostalgia moments were also on the agenda. Sega offered the first look at Crazy Taxi World Tour, while Saber Interactive confirmed Turok: Origins for a spring 2027 launch. Heroes of Might and Magic III received news of a full remake, arriving 27 years after the original’s 1999 debut. Indie highlights shone throughout the program.
Unrelated Studio’s Lofsöng, Airship Syndicate’s Dust: Origins, and Daniel Mullins’ wildly imaginative Pony Island 2: Panda Circus (arriving April 27 2027) each earned dedicated spotlight time. The pre‑show segment delivered additional announcements. Team 17 revealed Worms: Galactic Tactics, an isometric turn‑based tactics title slated for 2027. RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks is heading to Early Access soon, retaining the pixel‑art aesthetic that fans love.
Dlala Studios secured legendary comedian Bob Mortimer to voice the quirky title Murals. Indie studio Duck Reaction’s Perceptum, also due 2027, delivered a haunting trailer featuring an elderly woman closing her eyes to commune with the beyond, leaving a lingering chill in the auditorium. Finally, Amplitude Studios announced Humankind 2 for a 2027 release, noting that the studio has operated independently of Sega since 2024.
Romain de Waubert de Genlis, head of the studio, previously told GamesIndustry.biz that the 2021 original Humankind remains Amplitude’s most successful title both financially and in player count.